All work and no play for child advocacy groups in Tally on Tuesday

They may have been holding balloons and goody bags filled with rulers, pencils, and crayons, but there was no playing around for dozens of children and child advocacy groups who swarmed the State Capitol Tuesday afternoon. They were there imploring state lawmakers to "hold the line" on massive proposed cuts to children's social service programs.

"These are the moments in which rainy day funds are suppose to be used," said David Lawrence, chairman of The Children's Trust of Miami-Dade, and former publisher of The Miami Herald.

At a press conference Lawrence painted a bleak picture of what Florida's children and families can expect in the wake of proposed cuts -- 47,000 children are already on waiting list for school readiness programs, Lawrence said that figure could escalate by another 4,000 children next year.

On the chopping block this session is $25 million in funding to the state's foster care system, $3 million to $5 million in funding for the Healthy Start Coalitions which provide care to low-income pregnant women, and up to $17 million for subsidized child care programs.

"Imagine the consequences," Lawrence said. "We're going to have mothers and fathers who depend on these programs, who cannot find work because they cannot find affordable childcare for their own children... if they cannot do that they won't be able to hold a job, they won't be able to meet their family's needs. The family loses and Florida loses."